Emergency Care When Traveling
When you’re away from home, it’s important to know how to handle a medical emergency. Even when you take precautions, sometimes ATTR-CM can still cause symptoms that need medical attention.
First, talk to your provider about what symptoms need emergency care and which you can manage yourself.
How to Spot Worsening ATTR-CM
If you can, weigh yourself and check your blood pressure every day to check for sudden changes, says Li. “In ATTR-CM, your weight and blood pressure are some of the earliest signs that fluid is building up, and checking them daily on the road can catch a problem before it turns serious.”
- Extra trouble breathing
- Shoes and pants feeling tighter
- Drop in appetite
Wagoner tells her patients to bring extra diuretics like furosemide or hydrochlorothiazide to take if they notice early symptoms, but talk to your doctor about steps you can take to lessen symptoms as they appear and about which medications are best for you.
How to Get Medical Help Away From Home
If you travel out of the country, find out how to contact emergency services where you’re staying. You can also take these steps to prepare for possible medical emergencies while abroad.
- Look up your destination country’s emergency phone numbers through the Department of State.
- Sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which allows the Department of State to help more quickly if you have an emergency.
- Leave copies of your itinerary, contact information, travel documents, health history, and medications with a loved one at home.
- Get health insurance that covers your destination and medical evacuation.
For help with a medical emergency, you have several options. In the United States, you can call 911. Overseas, you can contact your local U.S. embassy by calling 00 1 202-501-4444.
To improve the chances that any medical team can provide the care you need, wear a medical alert bracelet or carry a card listing your ATTR-CM, your medications, and an emergency contact, and keep it on you the whole trip rather than in your suitcase, says Li.
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